Distinguished Past Member
Dr. Carl E.
Yaeger Jr.
—
Family physician, chiropractor, civil rights leader, and second-generation steward of Miami’s most beloved African American-owned medical institution.
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. — From Hartford to the Heart of Miami
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. was born on February 22, 1923, in Hartford, Connecticut, the elder son of physician Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Sr. and Ethel Wingo Yaeger. After several family moves, the Yaegers settled in Los Angeles, where Carl Jr. graduated with honors from Jefferson High School in 1943.
A two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army followed his high school graduation. Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. then pursued a demanding academic path at the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, and the Central States College of Physiatrics — emerging as one of a select group of physicians licensed in both family medicine and chiropractic medicine.
Dr. Yaeger began practicing in Aiken, South Carolina in 1950, opening his own Yaeger Clinic and extending his father’s medical legacy into the segregated South. After a return to Los Angeles, Dr. Yaeger Jr. and his father were ready to build something together — in Miami.
A Family Built on Healing
The Yaeger family legacy reaches back to the late 1800s, beginning with the real-estate investments of Elliott C. Yaeger Sr., a wealthy attorney and violinist. His son Elliott Jr. expanded those holdings into residential and commercial properties across New York and New Jersey, and his Asbury Park estate hosted jazz-era celebrities.
The family’s transition to healthcare began in 1926, when Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Sr. founded the original Yaeger Clinic in Long Island, New York. Licensed in several states, Yaeger Sr. would go on to operate Yaeger Clinics in cities including Boston and Los Angeles. A nationally recognized lecturer, author, and minister, he founded the pioneering Marriage Counseling Institute in Los Angeles, and became an early advocate for preventative medicine, balanced nutrition, and natural alternatives to surgery and medication — philosophies his son would carry forward for the rest of his life.
The Address That Changed Liberty City
In 1956, Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. and his father opened the Yaeger Clinic of Liberty City just blocks from the site that would define their legacy. Two years later, they made the move that would enter the history books.
1177 N.W. 62nd Street
The first African American-owned business in the then whites-only section of segregated Liberty City, Miami.
As Elaine Black of the Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust later recalled, Black residents of Liberty Square were not permitted to cross into that part of the neighborhood — meaning that even though the clinic was within walking distance, patients had to detour around the entire area to reach it. That the Yaegers planted their practice on that specific corner redrew the lines of opportunity in the community and became a cornerstone of Miami’s Black business history.
From that two-story building, the Yaegers built a full-service medical home.
The second floor housed a four-bed maternity ward where more than 400 babies were delivered — some Miami-Dade families had every one of their children born there. Loyal patients traveled from across Florida, from Georgia, and from the Bahamas to be seen by Dr. Yaeger. When disasters struck, the clinic’s medical team traveled to the sites to treat survivors. Its educational programs trained aspiring healthcare professionals through internships and scholarships, cultivating the next generation of Black medical talent in South Florida.
“Dr. Yaeger saved my life.” — “We only trusted the Yaeger Clinic when we were sick.” — “My life began at the Clinic.” Familiar refrains among generations of Miamians
Patients whose names became part of American history
Muhammad Ali
Heavyweight boxing champion, treated by Drs. Yaeger Sr. and Jr. in the 1960s during his years living in Miami.
Betty Wright
Grammy-winning Miami recording artist, treated by the Yaeger Clinic as part of the local community it served.
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr., Civil Rights Leader and Community Builder
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr.’s legacy extended well beyond the walls of his clinic. Dr. Yaeger was a committed civil rights leader who participated in sit-ins and voter-registration drives alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and he played an active role in integrating Miami’s formerly segregated hotels and restaurants. He was a loyal donor to both the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a particularly strong supporter of the NAACP ACT-SO program, which encouraged African American youth to pursue careers in the sciences.
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. was also an accomplished musician who sang and played piano professionally and hosted a music television show in the mid-1950s. And Dr. Yaeger was a man of public service: appointed Chairman of the Florida Board of Naturopathic Medicine by Florida Governors Reubin Askew and Bob Graham, and recognized by the 109th U.S. Congress with a Congressional Tribute in December 2006.
A lifelong member of the Historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Overtown, Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. mentored aspiring healthcare professionals, provided scholarships, and supported inner-city schools alongside his wife, educator Ollie Sharpe Yaeger, to whom Dr. Yaeger was married for thirty-six years.
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. Holds the Line, Holds the Light
When Dr. Yaeger Sr. passed away in 1971, Carl Jr. did not close the clinic. He kept it open — and kept it serving Liberty City for another thirty-four years, until 2005. Across five decades and through the seismic social shifts of the civil rights era, the integration of American medicine, the crack epidemic, and the arrival of managed care, The Yaeger Clinic remained what it had always been: a place where the community could be sure of being taken seriously.
In 1995, he co-founded The Yaeger Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that continues his family’s mission of expanding access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.
A Century of Yaeger Medicine: The Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. Timeline
Carl E. Yaeger Jr. is born in Hartford, Connecticut.
- 1926
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Sr. opens the first Yaeger Clinic in Long Island, New York.
- 1943
Yaeger Jr. graduates with honors from Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, then serves two years in the U.S. Army.
- 1950
Yaeger Jr. opens his own Yaeger Clinic in Aiken, South Carolina, extending the family legacy into the segregated South.
- 1956
Father and son open the Yaeger Clinic of Liberty City in Miami, Florida.
- 1958
The Clinic moves to 1177 N.W. 62nd Street — the first African American-owned business in the whites-only section of segregated Liberty City.
- 1965
Yaeger marries educator Ollie Sharpe; the couple welcomes son Ivan in 1967.
- 1971
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Sr. passes away. Carl Jr. continues operating the clinic alone.
- 1995
Dr. Yaeger co-founds The Yaeger Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit carrying forward the family’s healthcare and education mission.
- 2005
After 47 years of continuous service at 1177 N.W. 62nd Street, The Yaeger Clinic closes its Liberty City doors.
- 2006
The 109th U.S. Congress recognizes Dr. Yaeger with a Congressional Tribute.
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. passes away at age 87, leaving behind one of Miami’s most enduring medical legacies.
- 2026
Yaeger Plaza breaks ground on the historic site — a $60 million, 135-unit affordable housing development, slated for completion in late 2027, including a new clinic and a museum preserving the 1958 clinic facade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr.?
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. (1923–2010) was an African American family medicine physician, chiropractor, civil rights leader, and philanthropist in Miami, Florida. With his father, he co-founded The Yaeger Clinic at 1177 N.W. 62nd Street in Liberty City — the first African American-owned business in the segregated whites-only section of the neighborhood. Over 47 years of operation, the clinic served more than 100,000 patients, including Muhammad Ali and Betty Wright.
Where was The Yaeger Clinic located?
The Yaeger Clinic was located at 1177 N.W. 62nd Street in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. When the Yaegers moved the practice there in 1958, it became the first African American-owned business in the then whites-only section of segregated Liberty City. The clinic operated continuously at that location until 2005.
Did Muhammad Ali really go to the Yaeger Clinic?
Yes. Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali was treated by Drs. Yaeger Sr. and Jr. during his years living in Miami in the 1960s. Grammy-winning recording artist Betty Wright was also a patient.
When was Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. born and when did he die?
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. was born on February 22, 1923 in Hartford, Connecticut. He died on July 15, 2010 at age 87 in Miami, Florida.
What is Yaeger Plaza?
Yaeger Plaza is a $60 million mixed-use affordable housing development that broke ground in 2026 at 1177 N.W. 62nd Street in Liberty City, on the historic site of The Yaeger Clinic. Led by The Integral Group, it will deliver 135 apartment homes for income-qualified families — including a dedicated floor for disabled veterans and seniors — a new clinic, ground-floor retail, wellness and green space, a STEM programming center, and a museum preserving the original 1958 clinic facade. Completion is slated for late 2027.
How many babies were born at The Yaeger Clinic?
More than 400 babies were delivered in the four-bed maternity ward on the second floor of The Yaeger Clinic. Some Miami-Dade families had every one of their children delivered there.
Was Dr. Yaeger Jr. involved in the civil rights movement?
Yes. Dr. Yaeger participated in sit-ins and voter-registration drives with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and helped integrate formerly segregated Miami hotels and restaurants. He was a loyal donor to both the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a particularly strong supporter of the NAACP ACT-SO program encouraging African American youth in the sciences.
What honors did Dr. Yaeger Jr. receive?
Dr. Yaeger was appointed Chairman of the Florida Board of Naturopathic Medicine by Florida Governors Reubin Askew and Bob Graham. He was recognized by the 109th U.S. Congress with a Congressional Tribute in December 2006. In 1995, he co-founded The Yaeger Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit continuing his healthcare and education mission.
Where did Dr. Yaeger Jr. go to school?
Dr. Yaeger graduated with honors from Jefferson High School in Los Angeles in 1943. After two years in the U.S. Army, he earned degrees from the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, and the Central States College of Physiatrics, becoming one of a select group of physicians licensed in both family medicine and chiropractic medicine.
Explore the Legacy
Photos, Archives & Deeper History
Dr. Carl E. Yaeger Jr. passed away in 2010, but the footprint he left on Liberty City — in the patients he treated, the professionals he trained, the barriers he broke, and the family legacy he carried forward — remains one of the most enduring in Miami’s African American history.